Mole trap



July'21, 1936.

' M. A. MYGRANTS MOLE TRAP Filed March 2, 1935 ATTORNEYS Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE MOLE TRAP Max A; Mygrants, Jackson, Mich. Application March 2, 1935, Serial-No. 9,050

The main objects of this invention are:

First,-to provide an improved mole trap which is simple and economical in its parts and very efficient and effective in operation.

Second, to provide a mole trap of the foregoing character which is easy to set, the setting of the trap acting to break a closing path for the jaws when the trap is sprung.-

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow.- The invention'is defined and pointed out in the claims.- 7

' A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: I r v 1 is a view in front elevation of a mole trap embodying features of my invention, the trap being shown in open or set position. 7

' Fig. 2 is a similar view of the trap in sprung or closed position.

'Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation. Fig. 4' is a fragmentary view partially in section and partially in front elevation of the joint or toggle connecting the setting links.

Referring to the drawing, I in general is a mole trap comprising a pair of inverted rear bailshaped jaw members 2 pivoted together at?) near their lower ends and having diverging upper end portions 4. A coiled tension spring 5 isconnected at its ends to the tops of the jaw members and acts to urge them to closed position. i The arms 6 of the jaw members are connected bycross bars 1 arranged below the upper, end portions 4, the cross bars being rotatable relative to the arms. To these cross bars I connect apair of toggle links 8, the links being thus pivoted at their outer ends to the jaw members and having a common joint provided with a pivot 9. On the common joint I dispose a member 18 of inverted U cross section having its sides engaged by the pivot 9, the member Ill being adapted to lock the jaw members in open position against the tension of spring 5 when the common joint of the links is moved below the center line of the pivots at'the outer ends of the links.

-The member ID is provided with laterally projecting flanges l2 at its sides constituting a pan adapted to be pushed up by the mole to move the joint above the center line of the outer link pivots and spring the trap. The arms 60f the jaw members below the cross bars 1 and above the pivots 3 constitute the jaws of the trap which close on the mole with a clamping action when the trap is sprung.

HInuse, the trap l with the parts inclosed posi- 10 Claims. (ori -94y tion as shown by Fig. 2 is pushed into the ground inline with the'run-way of the mole. "The jaw members are then swung outwardly and the member I0 is depressed until the parts are locked with the trap in set position as shown by Fig. 1. With the trap set, the pan or joint of the toggle should lie above the mole run-way to be pushed up by the mole as it passes through the run-way.

When the trap is sprungthe mole is killed by theclosing of the jawsB.

It will be noted that when the jaws are closed they do not shear past each other and they are shaped so that a space is left between the jaws.

The purpose of this is to assist in holding a mole if caught by-the foot or nose; that is, it would not shearoff the member or completely sever the mole. The arms of the-jaw members are bent outwardly at a point above their lower extremity and gradually slope inwardly to a point of contact near the cross bars.

-- From the foregoing description of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I provide-a mole trap which is simple and economical in its parts and very easy to set. Further, my. trap is very efiective for the purpose intended and dispatches the mole, when caught in a; humane manner.

I-have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which I have found very practical. Ihave not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it isbelieved this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired. i r

1 -Although I have shown and described a certain specific embodiment of my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible. My invention is therefore not to be restrictedexcept insofar as isnecessitated by the prior art-and by the spirit 'of the appended claims. I i i r c Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A mole trapcomprising a pair of bailshaped jaw members pivoted together at their lower ends and having diverging upper end portions, a coiled tension spring connected at its ends to the tops ofv said jaw members and acting to urge them to closed position, cross bars journaled to the arms of said jaw members below said upper end portions, a pair of links connected at their outer ends to said cross bars and having a common joint provided with a pivot,

and a member of inverted U cross section on said joint having'its sides engaged by said pivot, said member being adapted to lock said jaw members in open position against the tension of said spring when the joint of said links is moved below the center line of the pivots at the outer ends of the links, said member being provided with lateral flanges at its sides adapted to be pushed up by the mole to move said joint above said center line and spring the trap, the arms of the jaw members below said cross bars and above their pivoted lower. ends constituting the jaws of s the trap which close onthe mole with'a'clamping action when the trap is sprung.

2. A mole trap comprising a pair of bai shaped jaw members pivotedtogether at {their lower ends and having diverging upper end.por tions, a coiled tension spring connected at'its" ends to said jaw members andacting -to urge them to closed position, cross bars journaled to the arms of said jaw members below said upper endv portions, a;pair of links connected attheir outer "ends to said crossv bars and having a commonjoi'nt provided with a pivot, and amember on-said joint engaged by said pivot; said memb'e'rfbeing adaptedto lo ck said jaw niembers in open position against the tension of said spring when the joint of said links is moved below $1 9 fcen'ter line. of ,the pivots at the outer endsoi-the linksg s'aid inernber being adaptedp be pushed up by the mole to move; said joint above said center lineand spring the trap, the arms of the jaw members below said cross bars and above their pivoted lower ends constituting the jaws of the'trap- 3 a 3. A mole trap comprising a pair of yoke-like jaw members pivoted together at their lower video. with a pan extension adapted to be pushed action when the trap, is p n s up by the mole; to move said joint, abovesaid center line and spring thetrap, the; arms of the jaw members below said linksand above their pivoteci lower ends constituting the jaws of the trap which close, on,,the mole with; a clamping 4. A mole trap comprising a pairof yoke-like jaw members pivoted together ati:.their, lower ends, spring meansactingwatnthe upper ends of said law members to .urge said jaw membersto closdposition, a pairiot links pivoted at their 01.11981 s 0- dJ' W members'cand havin a emmonioint a d amember ormverteacu cross section pivoted on said joint, said memberfbeing adapte to oo sa djawmembe l op positio n against the ,tension of said spring means when the joint of said links ismoved below'the center line oi the pivots at the outer ends of the links. g v .7

5,- A mole trap comprising a pair of yoke-like jaw" members pivotedetogether-at the ends of their arms, a coiled tension spring connected at its ends to the topspf said jawmembers and acting to urgethem to closed position, cross bars connecting the arms oih iaid' J' W embers-bee 9W. S d pper end p rtienaa a rofd nks scone eel d atih reuter endsto aid. re rs nd her ia nmea'iq itianda member. o n-.

: above their pivoted.lower-ends;eonstitntin& the

' ried by the pivot thereof verted U cross section on said joint, said member being adapted to lock said jaw members in open position against the tension of said spring when the joint of said links is moved below the center line of the pivots at the outer ends of the links, a

.when the trap is sprung.

6. A mole trap comprising a pair ofyok-like f jaw members pivoted together at the ends of 15 their arms, a coiled'tension spring connected at its ends'to said jaw members and acting to urge them to closed position, cross bars connectingv the arms of said jaw members below said upper end-portions, a pair of links connected 'at their below the center line of the pivots at the -enter ends of the links,'said means beingadapted-tobe pushed up by the moleto move said jointabove said center line and spring thetr'ap', the .of the jaw members below saidcross :b 3.1$j@nd jaws of the trap which close on themolewith a clamping action when the trap is sprung; A m e t a c r ea a r'qii ve t Q shaped jaw mernbers having their lower ends on; set inwardly and disposed in overlappingcrossed relation downwardly, their tips being tapered, pivots connecting the overlapping end portions 0f the arms, the bight portions of the jaw members being outwardly offset, a spring connecting the outwardly offset bight portions of thegarmsa'nd acting to collapse the jawrnembers, and a locking toggle comprising a pair of toggle members 7 pivotally connected to; each other .andjpivotally connected to said jaw mEmberS and' actin 20 hold them in set relation when the ,toggleisjexen d, d toggle ha i g atri pine span qari ,c A. m r p c is ng a a r of in e ed U shap ed jaw members having their lower ends oifset' inwardly and disposed in overlapping crossed relation downwardly, pivots connecting the overlappingend. portions of the arms, a spring connecting the bight portions of the'arms andacting to collapse the jaw members'Qanda locking toggle'comprising a pair of toggle mainbers pivotally connected to each other andpiv otally-connectedto said jaw members; and acting to hold them inset relation'whentheftoggle is extended. f a 6O] 9. Ina moletrap,'thebombination Ora-pan or bail-like jaw members having the lower'ends' of their" arms disposed in overlapping relation and pivotally connected, a 7 spring connected to the uppe'r'en'dsi of said jawmembersandgactlng to collapse the same, and an upwardly breaking j" toggle disposed in substantially spaced relation frornrtherpivot connections for th armsYo'f d outwardly above the pivots so that they are spaced for a substantial distance when the jaws are closed, a spring connecting the upper ends of the jaw members and acting to collapse the same, and an upwardly breaking toggle for holding the jaws in set position, disposed in substantially spaced relation from the pivot connection of the arms of the jaw members, and adapted to be broken by an upward thrust on the underside thereof to permit the spring to close the jaws.

MAX A. MYGRAN'I'S. 

